THE KITE RUNNER BY KHALED HOSSEINI BOOK REVIEW

It’s past midnight, 2am in the night, there is a 1.25 liters soda half drunk on the table and an empty plate; when I finish reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Apart from the whizzing sound from the fridge, the night is silent and very dark. The Christmas weather is aloof so it’s very cold. Despite this, the book I have just finish has some of the darkest parts the night is yet to show the world.

Without giving any spoilers I would say I love the ending.

The first time it was recommended to me it was by a good friend called Bilha or as she calls herself on Instagram, the Electric lady. This was many moons ago when I had just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by the same author and it tore my heart open, scattered all the pieces and I am yet to find some. I cried so much I have no simile to portray the actual pain I felt reading it. When I wrote a review about it she told me I should look for the Kite Runner, same feeling.

I bought it and had it on my shelf for a couple of months until recently.

On the cover of the copy I have, is a boy holding a Kite. I feel that’s Sohrab.

The Daily Telegraph has described it as Devastating. The Times says Heartbreaking and Isabelle Allende says it’s Unforgettable. 

I am still trying to figure out how the universe works, because it’s funny that I started reading it just when Afghanistan is back in the hands of the Taliban.

The Kite Runner takes you on full cycle from when Afghanistan was a piece of heaven with little troubles here and there, to the night of 1973 when King Zahir Shah was overthrown by his cousin, to the Taliban taking over and to the return of Zahir Shah after 28 years in Exile. …and now in 2021 the Taliban are back at the helm.

The Author Khaled Hosseini paints the picture of Afghanis through the eyes of a few characters key being Amir Agha…If I mention any relations with the other characters I will spoil the juice and sweet torture and pain this book gives you.

 Key quotes I also learned from it are, what Amir told his son Amir Agha…”there is only one sin, and that is theft, when you tell a lie, you still the right to the truth and many other way.” The other is the relationship between Hassan and Ami Agha “Not a word passes between us, not because we have nothing to say, but because we don’t have to say anything”...The other was “That’s how children deal with terror. They fall asleep.”

This basically sums up the whole plot. I have laughed at the wit of some of the characters, cried happy tears at the kindness of strangers in the book, cried tears of relief, had bouts of anxiety for the sake of some, cried more at the gentleness and kindness of some souls, and prayed for little…(who I won’t mention).

PS: I think Soraya was really a gentle, kind, beautiful soul.

Rating is a 10 on 10!

What a tale! ……….Robi Sarafina.